This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at El Guggenheim se limpia con química

The Guggenheim is cleaned with chemistry

01/04/2006

One of the elements that most powerful way contributes to the original appearance of the Guggenheim is the material used for its coating. It's titanium, in the form of rectangular scales covering the greater part of the exterior surface of the building.

Its use in the project of Gehry was all new, but, for this reason, it was not known what would be its evolution and the most appropriate treatment for cleaning. When he began to make evident the alteration of the external aspect of the Museum, was used for the analysis of experts, who determined that there had been an alteration of the natural oxide film of titanium due to weathering action.

To restore its original appearance to the coating they could not be applied mechanically as they would have altered the nature and thickness of the natural oxide film of titanium, responsible for the texture and the peculiar coloured building offers view. This coating of Titanium allow to varied hues reflect the colors and the lights of the surroundings of the Museum. It was not advisable to disassemble parts to treat them in another place or install scaffolding.

42.875 Titanium scales, extended in some 30,000 square metres, should be dealt with "in situ" and by chemical processes.

Appropriate treatment seemed to be what is known as selective pickling-passivating through application of acid followed by a rinse with water jet. But how to apply the acid in a controlled and secure manner? The solution, offered by the private fundación Inasmet, was to develop an innovative process based on stable foam that act as a vehicle for the active substances, the acid in this case, and that allow to restore the films altered in a very short timeonly from 1 to 3 minutes. The foam is applied by professional climbers through pressurized containers and guns. Once fulfilled its function, product is removed by suction, guaranteeing a zero impact on the environment. inasmet